Travelling North

Around August last year we booked a holiday on Queensland's Gold Coast. But like a lot of things in 2020 that plan didn't work out! 

Thanks to Australia's success in limiting the spread of COVID we can all travel freely now (fingers crossed!) - so here we are - for the next two weeks - our delayed holiday at the Goldie (as Joshy would say)!

We left Canberra on Friday and found it a relatively easy day's drive to Coffs Harbour thanks to the new North Connex tunnel that cuts out all the traffic bottlenecks driving through Sydney. 

We had plenty of time to take a walk around Park Beach in Coffs Harbour late that afternoon and get rid of any stiffness from the long drive. Every other time we've done this long day's drive from Canberra we've stayed with Ros and Pete at Sandy Beach - but that's not happening any more!

Looking back to the harbour at Coffs (Harbour)......

We arrived in Brisbane on Saturday around lunchtime. By sheer luck I was able to catch up with my dear friend Jane who just happened to be in Brisbane at the same time - and staying at the same hotel (the Novotel in South Bank)! It was only an hour or so catch up - but a good one (and a very lucky one). Afterwards we braved the pending storm and the gathering Saturday night crowds and found our fave "Baba Ganouj" Lebanese restaurant on Grey Street ..... and enjoyed our meal - before getting caught in heavy rain as we walked back to our hotel. Brisbane does stormy weather so well!!

We had some more sober business Brisbane too. Before Rob's Mum died in late 2019 she expressed a strong wish that a gravestone be commissioned for the little baby boy she and Allan had lost many, many years ago (one day after his birth in 1962). Rob's brother Colin ensured it was done last year and we were keen to see it finally in place at the historic Nudgee Cemetery.

We know Rob's Mum would feel very happy with the way little Barry Pettiford's headstone has been done - exactly as she wished.....

And so then, after a good catch up with Rob's brother and his Elaine too over brunch at Coorparoo, we made our way to Burleigh Heads ..........

We have a very well located apartment here, for the next two weeks, just opposite a park at the southern end of the beach. This is the view from the balcony ........

Arriving at Burleigh on a Sunday afternoon, the last day of the school holidays was an eye opener! Cars and people everywhere!!! We had a lot of fun as the day drew to a close watching all the parking and car cruising antics over the road..... all to a sunset cacophony of screeching Rainbow Lorikeets and Kookaburras laughing their heads off.....  

Today dawned absolutely beautiful - perfect weather to start our beach holiday......

We did a long beach walk this morning - heading north to Miami Beach ........

Taken from the lookout at North Burleigh, facing on to Miami Beach and Surfers Paradise in the distance..

Looking back the way we'd walked, from Burleigh Heads......

Our lovely neighbour Ellen who comes to Burleigh a lot recommended the Commune Cafe which we found on the walk back to the apartment. Thank you Ellen - we enjoyed the best coffee here since we'd left Canberra 3 days ago!

We needed to stock up on supplies today so we headed to Pacific Fair at Broadbeach in the afternoon. To a pair of country bumpkins like us Pacific Fair seemed as big as Terminals 1,2, and 3 at Sydney Airport (at least twice as big as Bondi Westfield, at least - and complete with resort style pools and cabanas etc etc etc... mind blowing!!). Lucky for us we managed to find some groceries in amongst all that - and a store that Ella would love to visit one day ............

Unloading our groceries this afternoon, we couldn't help but be distracted by the wedding being conducted in the park over the road - slightly unusual timing on a Monday afternoon - but hey why not???

Late this afternoon we took a drive about 7klm south - to Currumbin Beach, where our friend David had recommended a beautiful spot for taking a drink, and a meal, by the sea!

The Currumbin Surf Life saving Club has the most spectacular setting of any Surf Club on the Gold Coast (IMHO). Its been built on a rocky platform - nestled into the iconic "Elephant Rock" lookout with spectacular view up the coast to Surfers Paradise ........

And southwards towards Tweed Heads (NSW).......

It was just fabulous to have a delicious seafood meal looking out to these spectacular coast views, with the waves crashing just below us ........

We'll be so lucky if this beautiful weather continues - maybe a swim tomorrow?